How to Become a Home Health Aide in Rhode Island (Requirements & Schools)

Many people want to enter the healthcare industry.

There are many ways of doing so, as there are many fields and the demand for personnel is high.

One of the easiest routes is becoming a home health aide.

If you live in Rhode Island, this guide will present to you the steps you need to take.

Ideal Candidate

The first step is to ensure you’re made for the job.

Those who want to enter this field, must:

• Be compassionate
• Be reliable
• Have a driver’s license
• Can follow instructions
• Have good communication skills

Some of the people you’ll work with might need you to prepare them for their meals.

In other cases, you might have to know how to interact with pets or children.

It is highly likely that for other positions you’ll have to learn other skills as well.

Thus, the ability to learn new things and adapt to new situations fast is another quality you should have.

Speaking another language could also come in handy with some patients.

Training and Certification

The second step is to become certified to improve your chances of finding a job and getting paid more.

In Rhode Island, those who want to work as home health aides need to become certified nurse assistants.

The minimum training requirement for this certification is:

• 80 hours of classroom education
• 20 hours in a clinical setting

During this training you’ll learn about:

• Human needs
• Patient care
• Basic restorative care
• Caring for patients with particular problems
• Patient rights

Skills for these areas will also be taught during these classes:

• Personal care
• Basic nursing
• Rehabilitation
• Environment
• Recognition and reporting

Generally, the training can be performed while on the job as well, or the employer can offer the necessary training once the individual is hired, but before he or she starts working.

Once the training is completed, you’ll have to pass a written or oral exam, as well as a skills test.

The exam is organized through Pearson Vue.

To become certified you’ll need:

• To pass a background check
• To have the documentation you met the requirements
• To have a passport-style photo
• To fill out the application form

If you completed your training in a different state where the training was shorter than 100 hours in total, you’ll also need proof of at least 3 months of work experience.

Employment and Salary in Rhode Island

Here are the best employers in the state for home health aides, or certified nurse assistants:

• Visiting Nurse Home Care in Lincoln
• Amedisys Home Health Care in Warwick
• Caretenders in Newton
• Pinnacle Home Care
• Visiting Nurse Service Of Newport & Bristol Counties
• Hope Nursing Home Care, LLC in Cranston

The employment can be temporary as some of the clients only need help while recovering from accidents or certain surgeries, while others might be at the end of their lives.

Salaries are on average higher in cities like

Regional Salary in Rhode Island

Extra Information

In Rhode Island, there’s a difference between individuals who offer skilled services and those offering homemaker and companion assistance.

These types of workers might be hired by different types of agencies.

In a case, those who are not involved with direct (or hands-on) assistance with daily living are not required to get a license.

HHA Schools by State